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A _© For Every Job The Ring MAGflex range of Inspection Lamps As one of the first companies to pioneer LED inspection lamps for garages and workshops, Ring has a rich heritage and a strong reputation in workshop lighting. Bright, portable, rechargeable and resistant to oil, dirt and tough enough to withstand the knocks in a workshop, whatever the job. Visit www.ringautomotive.com and find the right light for your job. MAGflex Under Bonnet EXTEND AND ADJUST E10 © /ringautomotive www.terrafirma4x4store.co.uk | T: +44 1235 832900 | E: sales@frogsisland4x4.comDOG GUARDS 7 em " E : ; 7 Ee acne! Perens ars Pe ee tact md ee rut cre aye) Bec aem Neos en ee ee ee es Ted Ce ee NOW STOCKING INTERIOR PROTECTION © FROM TRAVALL : = Terrafirma have teamed up with Travall, the world’s leading producer of Dog Guards, Floor Mats and Bootliners to introduce their products into our range. Travall have been making cost-effective accessories since 2007 and well recognised for quality and ease of fitment. =a pen a ie Ree ere te re cements tae ree the road. So, ityoU're looking fora quard thats just as tough, aie ncnenc inte cinhedetiempsctoclohe cl SHOP ONLINE AT: WWW.TERRAFIRMA4X4STORE.CO.UK2 | NOVEMaER 2019 News 14 Land Rover Defender Along lst. the covers are off 20 INEOS Grenadier | be real, British-buie Tested 30 Isuzu D-Max XTR New m 34 ‘Toyota Landeruiser 8: Every Month ‘Alan Kida Wil there be a New O 2 %6 Features 38 Jeep 5-Quarter 44 Expedition Cruiser 50 Lamborghini LM002 Is Travel 58 Suda Our 4x4s 66 Defender 90 A jus-in-time visi to Strata Florida Off-Road Scene 70 Ardventures Ne 72 Jeepey Jamboree ic was a ‘Odyssey Challenge Mow C: Slindon Safari Dovbled.up Jacob's Ladder P Off-Road CalendarAlan Kidd Editor Potten tetteen that look after them. That's why the Land Rover Defender is such an icon, and why s0 many owners basically fll in love with thee trucks Defenders are very good a¢ taking cone for the team, But theyre also very g00d at letting you know how much ariel youre giving them — from the moan ofthe engine to the clanking from the suspension and the thumps and boings from the springs, when you oft-road a Defender is constantly saying This fs What Fm Putting Up With For You That's why people dont fallin love with Landeruisers or Patrols the same way. ‘These are vehicles that ust do it, with no reat song or dance Having owned a Patrol. Landeruiser and enough Defenders to demonstrate with some certainty that Il never lear, Ian confirm that the only vehicle Ive ever shed a tear over when sling it was imy fist 90. e caused me more grief than anything else Ive ever owned, but in the shx yours we spent sogutber became Melong friend The night before | delivered it toes new owner, | went outside to say goodbye and my God. swear | saw teardrops in its headlamps too. ‘And there iti right there, the power ofa simple off-road truck to turn a grown man into a gibbering wreck. That was just under ewo decades ago, and here | am stil talking about my old 90 tke a soppy hot Will people stil be feeling the same way about the new Defender in twenty years time? les posible, | guess. But they've gone to great lengths to design out the old Defenders imperfections. and to a great extent those are what made people love It Land Rover say thi isa premium vehicle. The old Defender even when they started fo tart op wes mavr pros Thats ‘what made it magical You could be a bioke- wot-goes-down-sewers-in-big-rubber boots or you could be a brain surgeon: whoever you were, whatever you did, it was relevant to your life. twas perhaps the most de Hence the Land Rover Wave. e's one of the very best things I've ever experienced asa driver: No other car I know of has 4 | NOVEMBER 2019 the same effect on people. And again, the person waving back might be a farm hand 2 millionaire... ie might be someone who's just stolen itor ie might be the Queen. No ‘other car isso universal, nor so bonding ‘And you know,if it the Queen, reckon she’ probably wave back Something else | reckon, in fact sure of iis that there'll be a New Defender Wave. Based purely on novelty nothing tse.“Oh my God, YOUVE got one too, how cool are WEF and s0 on. But wil people driving old and new Defenders wave to teach other? I very much hope so First time Im behind the whee! of my TS 90 and I see a new one coming the other way.of course I'l wave.| honesty on't know ifthe other guy will wave back, though — whether hell even recognise what 'm doing, whether he'l think he's pact of the same community a8 me... and, ‘most ofall suspect, whether hel think something like Took at that loser: thinks his ld truck s worthy of a wave from me: Honesty, think that's how a lot of ts feel about the new one, Personally | don't mind ts styling and I ike the idea ‘of Defender that's comfortable and well equipped, but n sceptical about its genuine long-term abilities and I can't stand the way theyre marketing it 3s a cool wagon for well off adventurers Things that entire paragraph could have been written three decades ago about the then-new Discovery. Every word. And that turned out alright, did't ie? Seling my old Disco didnt make me bub though. And no-one ever waved. And yet iewas more ofa Defender than the new Defender i Make sense of that. | want to love the new Defender. want eto prove itsel and | want this to be the start of a new chapter ~not the end ofthe And if you ever see me in one, | want you to wave. Ideally with more than just the ewo fingers ax4 Tol: 01283 553243, Emoit enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk Webs wwrw.totaloffroad.co.uk wow xdi.com Online Shop: www.oronline.co.uk Facebook: www facebook.com/totalofiroad www facebook com/4x4Mag, Editor ‘Alan Kidd Assistant Editor George Dove Art Editor Samantha D'Souza Contributors ‘Mike Troct, Dan Fenn, Kazuyoshi Sasazaki, Paul Looe, Pip Evans,Tom Traubert, Jenny Bright, Gavin Lowrie, Raymond and Nereide Greaves Photographers Harry Hamm, Steve Taylor, Tomasz Jarecki, Andy Bonner Group Advertising Manager lan Argent Tel 01283 553242 Advertising Manager Colin Ashworth Tel: 01283 553244 Advertising and Exhibition Sales Executive Abigail Cooper Tet: 01283 553246 Advertising Production Sarah Moss. Tet 01283 553242 ‘Subscriptions Manager Catherine Marcin Subscriptions Assistants Emma Emery, Kay Tunniclffe,Abi Dutton Publisher and Head of Marketing Sarah Moss Enait sarah moss @assignment-media co.uk To subscribe to 4x4, or renew a subscription, «all 01283 742970, Prices for I2 issues: UK £42 (24 issues £76): Europe AirmailROW Surface £54; ROW Airmail £78 Dandy Maret we mre cok Ey fit made ore he cats of ad ee ower bat Kept Mats pase ft trot ores tor te cma of co made, Sa reat ef se When repre ae {jou sod make pope eae eke ede imo eteng no cancTe pir tne frown cov cra ar pny bw I forte donage ceed fom rpg ober ero pats ct acc te ete CY 20 ot fev, te mage 8 nade oe ede et ere enmon kt: ed two cence 4s pubes by Asmar Mea i Repton Howe Gi Brey Busine Prk Ahoy Rone Brey Dertshie DEIS OZ © Assignment Media Led, 2019 4x4 Lighweight Steering Guarae SOOO a ue meu ri) LUgreweight Si Protectors Bowler Motorsport Accessories Add that extra special touch to your Defender part.com aes A selection of great looking, high quality accessories from Bowler Motorsport. Bowler is « market leader in the production of racing and high performance all terrain vehicles, and has been since 1985, Based in Derbyshire in the UK, they use both technology and craftsmanship to deliver vehicles and accessories with style, strength, performance and an unrivalled spirit of adventure. aa cialGALLERY Oe eee CMa cere Cle RUE Ramco Ce) Africa and 4xts go together perfectly Whether its the white Patrols and Landerulsers used by ald agencies and other NGOs, the bakkies used by everyone in rural South Arica or the ‘uirky expedition trucks ofall shapes and sizes driven by travellers out to see the world, the Dark Continent (actually, ts very ight) is definitive oftearmac territory. You might be exploring an iconic landscape like the Sahara Desert in a convoy of overland ‘campers with roof tents or box bodies or tacking classic African trl ike the fabled Sani Pass. You might be on the adventure of lifetime on an event lke the Budapest-Bamako Rally ‘Or you might have been parked up watching the animals on a safari drive for so long that the animals have come to find shade under the back end of your truck Either way. Alia is the place to go for stuff you don't see anywhere el Majestic sand dunes? OF course Towering mountains? Plenty. Barren deserts tha Iterlly run to the edge of the sea? No, not like Skegness. Africa is a Continent whose wildife and landscapes are why so many people want to go there and why 20 many of them want aboard a 4x4. ‘Moin picture: Morocco effroed tip, by Hans Wakateltes @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0 ‘Above: Lions Under the Jeep, by Wiliom Werby @ fick. com, €C BY 2.0 Left 4x4 Shipwreck Tal, Namaqualand, by floweomm @ flek.com, CC BY 2.0 {ow Soni Poss going down by fveriocker i flekr.com mndvich Herbour 4x4 tour by Olivier Brucher @ flkr-com, cc av-sa20 Inst above lefts Arsenie Cone @ flickr.com, CC BY.ND 2.0 Inset above right: Southern Sahara, by Devid Stanley @ fikr.com, CC BY 2.0 ‘Above: Budopest-Bameke Relly 2015, by BudepestBomeke @ fckr.om, ‘etow: Woter Crossing et Entabeni by Ryan Kilpatrick @ flcr.com, CC BY-ND 2.0 =p” SPECIALIST 4X4 VEHICLE DISMANTERS JEEP - LAND ROVER AND MOST MAKES AND MODELS QUALITY GUARANTEED USED PARTS SOME OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE RECENTLY DISMANTLED: 2015 JEEP 2007 DODGE 2016 RANGE WRANGLERJK NITRO 2.8CRD ROVER EVOQUE 2.8CRD . 2014 RANGE 2016 ISUZU 2014 JEEP ROVER SPORT 4.4 D-MAX 2.5 DIESEL CHEROKEE MKS V8 DIESEL. KL 2.0 MULTHET 2010JEEP 2007 LANDROVER 2008 HONDA CHEROKEE MK4 DISCOVERY32.7 CRV2.2 CDTI KK 2.8 CRD 2006 JEEP GRAND 2006 NISSAN. CHEROKEE WK PATHFINDER 2.5 5.7 V8 HEMI ci Creu cor Cus Vehicle Recycling Centre, Gravel Pit Hill, Thriplow, ee ae edyr4 Tel 01223 832656 Caer ume eknt PLEASE VISIT WWW.CHARLTONAUTOPARTS.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2019 | 7DESTINATIONS BR Cke ae Cm heh eee ee Eee OCMC R Nee Cee Bee Mc lila GENERAL PERFORMS EXCEPTIONALLY LL-TERRAINS Pei a me YOURAGCESSTO Pa ( AU Ye aSiTeD ray Nea Rae uae UE eRe ee ae Cees WWW.ASITE4X4T YRES.CO.UK | 0870 112 9401THE BIG FINISH! Stoneleigh Park gets ready for the biggest event in the Land Rover show calendar - the ever-popular Great British Land Rover Show hac time of year i arymore.For the first time, dream of exploring the world approaching when club stands willbe indoors in'a__within it you'l find everything you neleigh Park could possibly need to turn you i ready for the " rs Landy into an overland machine Great British Land Rover Show. independent retailed of Lan ‘And in addon to coo! kit like The annual seaton-cloter, whichis parts and accessories. roof gents, camping equipment and and can therefore be This exciting new section ofthe accessories, youl find companies show is fee for exhibiting clubs. It offering professionally led overseas does have limited capacity, however, adventure tours as well as of and spaces are available on afi tarmac experiences on Brian's cme, first-served basis sreen lanes Stoneleigh offroad course willbe in Each club that books a stand will The buik of the indoor space, _inall aspects ofthe Land Rover action again. Under the stewardship get space for two vehicles, four as always, will be taken up by scene.And don’ forget our sister of the Al Wheel Drive Chub, show exhibitor tingon the some of the most reputable and publication The Landy, which will be shows website and show gude desirable brands inthe Land Rover there tox plus access toa unique weblink community Whether you're looking Tickets forthe show cost £15.00 that allows club members for modifications pare parts of on the door, but are currently advance fora whatever accessories you and your avalible for £7.50 yes, just hal ‘Access tothe offroad route is price of ust £5.00!To book a club Land Rover could ever need, you'll price ~f booked in advance (with by ticket only.And as usual, pre- stand, contact Ab fin ! advance ticket sales closing at booked tickets offer a saving - they 01283 553246 the show's headline midnight on Tuesday 19 November. cost £15.00 on the day but just Also new for 2019 is the sponsors BFGoodrich will be For show tickets and offroad £10.00 in advance Adventure and Outdoor Leisure exhibiting, as wil addtional ‘course passes alike, head for Previously the only othe Zone, which isa the very heart of sponsors Terafirma and Paddock _wwwgreatbrcshirshow.comtickets, outdoor section ofthe show the show.This new area is specially Spares. Other brands present Its going to be a gre we has been the club stands, Well for the many Land Rover fans who inchide Syncro Gearboxes, Ruskin look forward to seeing you the 10 | NOVEMBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019| 11a All Seasons. a All Conditions. All Terrains. bth ef 3 4 “yy Dwg o TERRATOURA, LEADING THE WAY M is All-terrain, all year round. Ibs \ oy www.milneroffroad.com See hey Ce oS 2 isuzu M.O.T & Service Parts ot Suspension Lift Kits ff yan Snorkels & Winches /——— Wheels & Tyres Air Suspension z \—— skid Plates 4 \——— Roll Bars \ Heavy Duty Clutches fran ec Sea DS EEC Sao aly -so0o Ce ae ea NOVEMBER 2019 | 134x4 NEWS 4x4 NEWS MIXED REACTION FROM OFF ROADERS AND HARDCORE BRAND LOYALISTS ALIKE AS LAND ROVER UNVEILS REVOLUTIONARY DEFENDER ‘FIT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY’ All-new Defender has monocoque design, independent suspension all-round and automatic transmission as standard * Two petrol and two diesel engines at launch, plug-in hybrid coming next year * All models have cruise, climate, DAB and heated seats * Commercials set to start at £35,000, 90s at £40,000 + Orders open now for 110, priced from £45,240 to £78,800 ‘It’s probable that we will see the new Defender follow the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in breaching the £100,000 barrier’ Pee eter SEITYou can argue all day long about whether or not the Defender looks like it should from the outside. But its cabin is a massive leap forward by any standards, in terms of design and equipment alike. Is there any other vehicle in the history of car making whose interior has skipped so many generations from one model to the next? The 110 wil 2020.This will bea busy year in the 5,6 or S+2 seats, while the 90 wil huge 400bhp. Full figures are yet to be quoted, however both diesels return 37.2mpg combined and CO, Defenders launch programme wit in option joining the range during the option of safety tech including autonomous ‘emergency braking lane keep asi. be capable of accommodating up driver condition monitoring and to six. Both will be available in five diferent spec levels (Defender S SE, HSE and X) in addition to the First Ed be avalible for the first year of emissions of 1994/km the 90 coming in to jon the 110, trafic sign recogni The 3.0 i petrol engine i a mild followed by commercial versions Most remarkable ofall perhaps hybrid, and there will also be a plug- of bo Land Rovers new Pivi Pro infotainment system can recewe software updates over the air and production. Land Rover will also instal them automatically This in coffer four themed accestory packs, a vehicle where i al a well as more optional equipment progress to note that the new than has ever been offered model hasan adjueable steering column And a dashboard Reassuringhyall versions of previously on one ofits vehicles including winches, awnings oof tents and more the Defender have a dualrange ‘Amon all dhe many culture transfor box. They also have Terrain shocks for traditional Defender Response, and models with ai ‘owners, perhaps the bigest isthe suspension get Adaptive Dynamict long list of standard equipment to go with i that’s fitted across the range Land Rover is insistent that the Defender will be its offroad flagship and in addition to the figures quoted above it has a Every Defender will have cruise windscreen, auto lights and wipers, heated seats, DAB radio,Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, sat nav, 360-degree parking ald and round clearance of 291mm and wading depth of 900mm. The latest version ofTerain Response gains 16 | NOVEMBER 2019 So what do people make of it? WHEN WE FIRST posted the new Defender on Facebook, readers of both 4x4 and our sister publication The Landy had very split opinions fon t Most were negative — but a good number expressed admiration for the vehicle, in many cases almost despite themsebes. "actually realy Ike it? commented Anthony Moss, though Tom Quilty ‘countered that it looks like a fashion accessory’ Cameron Walker, t00, $214" do actually lke it! and that view was shared by several others. There was a flurry of comments says the veh le looks like something from another manufacturer Suzuki got a number of votes here. as did the ‘Skoda Yeti but the most common comment was that it looks ike a Jeep ‘Away from the vehicle's appearance, Andy Crossley had a comment that will ring true with many traditional Defender owners Three seats in the front ~ result" Adrian Stannard, meanwhile asked if he panels are bolton justin case you damage one doing what the original Defender was designed to dot” Danie! Irwin's comment wil ing true with many would-be owners, t00:'f | had the money.| would buy the 110: And the Defender’s price id atrace a lot of ite a Dis tion. Neil MeDougalls suggestion th covery witha spare wheel and a Bentley price tq’ might suggest that hes not tried to buy a Bentley recently, but Emma Draper summed up many peoples mood by saying bring back the real 0s and 110s wich affordable price tags’ Not that real 90s and 110s have had affordable price tags for some time now ~ but at least the original Defender wat never another Chelsea tractor which will sell tothe rich and stupid’ which is ‘what Michael Dennis makes ofthe new one. Another recurring theme was the articulation on display in Land Rov cers press pictures."Now that’s some flex’ sid Matt Lynn, and yes he was a Made in the UK being sarcastic. Mikey Durdle wasn't, though, when he said didnt know untl now that a Defenders articulation could have gotten worse reliance on electronics attracted a bit of attention, too was from Luca Garau'! hope there's an ECU that opens a specific valve just to simulate an ol leak Perhaps the saddest comment, however and certainty one that, cought to worry Land Rover, came from David Irvine:'None of the real De obviously forgotten how universally disked the DC100 con: Jers icone looks (Im serious) have survived. Land Rover have pt was. and regurgitated i Always hoped that one day I'd buy myself a new Defender Certainly wouldn't touch this with a barge pole ‘es a Disco without the creature comforts’ said Nick Caton.And John MacLennan chimed in with; Well dane Land Rover you managed to make your entire range pretty mi But lev’ irish off wid ment from lan MacDonald: 1 Bho i You can definitely see the panel shapes and other distinctive Defender body lines. Mind you, the Defender is really an updated Series | mounted on the Range Rover Ciassic chassis me ce dike Ache LL) ed tee ee NOVEMBER 2019 | 177Farewell to all those perfect imperfections OWNING A DEFENDER is not ike owning any other cor. It’ like diving around in your best friend, or someone in your family being a superhero. People don't just own Land Rovers: they fall in love with them (One of the absolutely pivotal reasons for this has always been that Land Rovers are flawed. Car makers spend an awful Jot of their time trying to ‘achieve perfection, and in doing so they make products the opposite of beings. The Defender -dibly capable ~ but to accept its quirks and follings. Owning one i @ two-way thing ond that's why people ascribe human The old Defender was fun to drive, but flawed, to ‘quote Land Rovers Chief Engineer in chorge of Vehicle Integrity, Mike Cros. ‘New Defender is fun, be without the flaws. Does this mean Land Rover has designed cout the very thin that made people fll in love with their Defenders? Having owned enough of the things that I need to count them carefully | fear i might. With 0 galaxy of software doing the work for you, no longer will you be Immersed In the driving experience the way you used to be. There wos absolutely nothing ‘nodyne about the ld Defender: I won't ute that word about the new one, but it certainly is slick and polished You don't look at the old Defender and think ‘phwoorr but you come to see it the same way you see your brother ora family pet. The new cone... you might all in love with it way you fll in love with Cameron Dias first time you saw There's Something About Mary, but wil you ever find yourself trying to explain to your parents why this one, ths is THE one, ‘and no, Mum, please don't worry about those puddles of ol on your driveway? Of course not. Because it wont drip oi will? Land Rover hos spoken loud and clear: the imperfections are gone. Thote lovable, frustrating but unique imperfections which, up to1now, have made the Defender perfect. The new one’s jb i to replace thote perfect Imperfections with something ele that’s os 00d ot making people fallin love with their trucks. Ifit can do that, Land Rover will have pulled off the greatest stoke of genus since ‘Maurice Wilks drew the outline of¢ road-going tractor in the sand of @ beach in Anglesey Alan Kidd, Editor a new Wade mode at the top of the range indeed, and there's a ClearSighe Ground View system which shows a camera image of the area obscured by the bonnet that visibly is bad, dashboard has been kept low to help create the high-command position for which $0 well known, plication of Configurable Terrain Response, which allows experienced drivers to fn individual settings while o@ mind up about the best seteings for the terrain. Like the version of Terrain Response with the new Wade mode, however, this system is conly standard on the range-topping X model This brings us to pricing. which \s perhaps the least surpriing thing about the Defender. Most observers expected it to start at around £40,000, and Land Rover says the cheapest 90 will cost around that with Commercial models starting ac around £5000 cheaper: The ! 10, ieanwhile, starts at £45,240 with the entry-level diesel engine and 18 | NOVEMBER 2019 climbs toa stratospheric £78,800 in 3.0 16 P00 X form, les expected that the range won't stop there ether: Plug-in hybrid ‘models may push prices higher stil and when, as seems likely JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations As itis of department introduces an SVX ‘model. i's probable that we will soe the new Defender follow the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in breaching the £100,000 barrier ders are being taken row for the 110, with the 90 due to follow soon. Land Rover has not deliveries are expected, however with production ramping up at is new factory in Slovakia it's aly that the ve cles wil sare appearing on UK roads early next spring Ey heoyecats Pees peers The best body lift kit for your money High quatity spacers © His bolts (that fio High performance brake hoses Ho. nd clips © Bumper reto io plates Vertuatly every marque covered Scan the QR code, Google Xpajun or es Tel: 020 3598 2107 or 0796 863 0008 foveye wr) ie LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS le are a business that cares about your Landy and about the customers ls, Q Company who understands what the Landy is all about. We export Land Rovers worldwide PU MuehtReacituenaicel ttl elite) used Land Rovers. ; ing, MOTS, Mechanical, Diagnostics, SKYTAG Agent, Galvanized Chassis, Body Repair/Paint Shop Works Astwood Bank, Astwood Business Park, Astwood Lane, Redditch. B96 6HH AN, »¥, “yp” Tel : +44(0)1527 892 377 Mobile : +44(0)7974075932 mail: info@astwood4x4.co.uk cebook.com/Astwood4x4 www.twitter.com/Astwood4x4 www.astwood4x4.co.uk wwINEOS CONFIRMS GRENADIER OFF-ROADER WILL BE BUILT IN BRITAIN NEOS Aucomotive has finally announced what everyone already though was a fact hat ts fortheomng new (offroad vehicle, fagged up as the spiritual successor to company chairman Jim Ratcliffes much-loved Land Rover Defender, willbe called the Grenadier Possibly the fist vehicle ever to be named after a pub (the rather inappropriately posh Grenadier in Belgravia, where the notion of pick ing up where Land Rover lft off was originally conceived) INOS" ‘44 will be powered by BMW en- {Bhnes and is scheduled to go onsale in 2021, The company describes ic ‘a a‘ultarian’ vehicle, hough i has in the pas hinted that prices are Waly to start at around £40,000, suggesting it won't undercut the new Defender by much. But the really big news is that unlike the Defender, the Grena- ier willbe bil in Britain. While alo confirming the vehicle's name, INEOS announced that ic has started development work on a new assembly plane in Bridgend ~a 20 | NOVEMBER 2019 ‘move which it says wil create up to 500 jobs inthe area INEOS is investing £600 milion In the Grenadier project. part ‘of which will also go towards establishing a factory in Estareja, Portugal. This is where the vehicle's body and ladder-frame chassis will bbe manufactured, "We have looked long and hard st possible manufacturing locations for Grenadier across the wor! with lots of good options to choose fom’ said Ratlife. The decision to buld in the UK isa significant ‘expression of confidence in Briesh manufacturing, which has always been atthe heart of what INEOS stands for “The Bridgend factory is being built on a I5-acre greenfield site ad- [cent to Ford’ huge engine faccory, which will close next year with the loss ofan estimated 1700 jobs INEOS says ts new development will create 200 jobs intially, with as ‘many 28 $00 anticipated in the long- term although this doesnt take into account the knock-on effect of is business tothe local supply chain “Today's announcement is great news for Wales and I'm delighted INEOS Automotive will be seting up home in Bridgend, which has a long history of skilled manufactur: ing expercse; said Welth Gov- ernment Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates. The Welsh Government has worked closely with the company to make this hap: en and I look forward to seeing the development of the new site progress ahead of the planned sar (of production in 2021! The Grenadier project was first announced shorty after the original Lind Rover Defender went Cut of production in 2016. twas reported atthe ene that Solihull had rebuffed approaches from one for more businesses interested in buying the rights tothe vehicle Ratcliffe hs made no secret of his admiration for is traditional of- road engineering, and INEOS has bbeen clear from the outset that this is something it intends to replicate with its new truck. In addition to is ladder chassis, the company says the Grenadier wal have beam axes full-time four- wheel drive, a two-speed transer ‘case and lacking diferentils (plural) 'Clas-leading towing and payload capacity. with power and ‘torque to match’ are promised, as, isa no-fuss,eay-to-fx body with room in the back of the cabin for Euro pallet In addition, INEOS says the vehicle wil have the best approach, departure and breakover angles in its cass (and therefore, presumably anywhere). and that its BMW-sourced engines will be spe aly tuned for off-road use, with high torque at low revs ‘Confirming production inthe UK. as well as our investment in Portugal. a major milestone for ‘the project’ commenced INEOS ‘Automotive CEO Dirk Heilmann "We are progressing well wth the design and engineering work, as well as our marketing and dstribu- ‘don plans Inthe months ahead, we look forward to sharing more in- formation about the Grenadier and ‘engaging with local suppliers. the ‘community and region. in advance ‘of the stat of production in 2021.PRODUCTS DISCOVERY 2 TAILGATE STRUT FROM DEVON 4X4 Midlands Truck & Van Peretti Nets HEAVY-DUTY Eee FOR JK AND JL WRANGLERS Det RADAR RENEGADE RS €8.95 , foo naoAn 22 | NOVEMBER 2019 2019 | 23PRODUCTS MUD-UK’S NOW IN STOCK at Mud-UK is the GMB Mount Locking Jerry Can Holder.As you might discern from the name, this isa locking, jerry can holder. les more chan just thae. though. In Mud-UK's own words GMB Mount’s Locking Jerry Can Holder incorporates a clever sliding locking strap mechanism that remains attached to the holder ‘ensuring there are no loose pleces, straps atchets to remove or unfasten to lose or leave behind’ Got that? ‘The point is tha these units feature an integral retention strap, FE HOME FOR YOUR JERRY CANS PROTECTAKOTE NOW IN STOCK AT MILNER 4X4 PICK-UP OWNERS know all about Protectakote, whose ant-lip paint ideal for use as a cut-price bedliner~ is now avalable fom Milner 4x4 Potec Ta: } ‘The Matlock-based Japanese 4x4 specialise stocks fone and fouritre tubs of the stuf as well as full kis pe 8rceeraae cH Including rollers, with prices starting from £16 plus VAT. “Tough. flexible and easy to apply. Miner says you'll get PRODUCTS MACHINE MART has published its new cotologue for the autumn and winter This 508-poge tome feotures more than 21,000 different items of tools and machinery ~ including various new products ond ‘more thon 760 price cuts on exiting items. Whether you're @ pro or an enthusiost, there's bound to be something here for you~ to find it, order your copy by visting www machinemart co.uk which can be the same results from Protectakote as you wil from locked in place more expensive brands. whether or Te find out more, vst www.milneroffroad.com. Here, not there's an you'l find that the company’s site has been renewed, actual jerry with new features making it easier to use then ever: can contained within the Bracke. Having said that, you can ato get a nondocking Manufactured from stainless steel external frame which fllows the profile ofthe classic NATO jerry can, che units can be attached to any flat surface using pre-driled fxing holes within said frame. Alternatively an optional adaptor bracket allows them to be mounted on to cargo track The GMB Mount Locking Jerry Can Holder is priced from £85 including VAT.To find out more, go to seen a & — ah Tee Ve 2 22 comprehensive range : ~ ROME ge ses | ‘or complete rewire to cele ere vee ‘Auto & Marine Electrical Components Everything electrical for your 4x4 project at great prices. 1000's of parts in stock for immediate despatch with fast delivery. pa) Co ‘COMPLETE READY TO DRIVE ‘CARS OR SELF BUILD KITS 24 | NOVEMBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 | 25PRODUCTS NEW IRONMAN DRIVING THERE CAN BE LIGHTS WITH DRLS ONLY ONE Ws taken 60 plus yeors of research and development to bring you Australis > peepee eerie oO, Peers ecmnetbeerrT iy a aN OF Foam Cell TrakRyder Shocks to www pedders.co.uk PPERS Sara Infoapedders.co.uk RLG Tyres Tyres cheap. Not Cheap tyres! OFFICIAL well as being completely protection fi 7/774 ee | = Driving Mobile Media Innovation The PWD-X5 features an 8-inch subwoofer, amplifier and DSP in a small underseat form. reed to worry about river cro The Meteor lights are part of @ wide range of 3F where you alm a high pressure hore. STOCKIST 060 ©) es Wired Remote Control Seer con nid eeu hel ann amplifier by USB. Use the rotary encoder to select ene enor A ieta me ese i uri Main supplier of BFGoodrich cenerat rin= CZ and all major 4x4 tyres Bluetooth Audio Streaming Ten eek ac cru) Et eit ucka PS RR ee F eR iris solution for you. With the included Bluetooth dongle Pree un ees el CR RO UCROS Ee) Pee RUNS nas eum Tolls smartphone to the PWD-XS5.PRODUCTS RING HAS ADDED 3 new hands-free use, and it also comes uality lamp to is MAGIex range of with dual hanging hooks. ts bod, inspection lightAnd the company meanwhile, rotates through 360° so promises thatthe RIL3700HP you ean position is beam exactly means professional mechanics wil where you need it now have'the light they need to get The amp is powered by WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING FOR? the job done’ rechargeable batteries for cordless Completing the Ring family of _useand has aan operating ime inspection lamps. the new unit (of up to 25 hours. t comes with matches the rest ofthe range in mains and 12V DC charging cabs. ‘oflering the Nexbly required “The MAGiex amily of lamps has to project a beam of light exactly changed the face of LED inspection where you need it It can be used lamps bringing mare versatility hands-free, too, and designed to and choice to professionals provide a bright poo of ght on says Workshop Lighting Product The new lamp joins a range alo quality inspection lights, Ring your work area without needing to Manager Jim Gross. Weve designed including the specialist RUBLI000 offers a range of products whose be held in place Cur lamps to meet the challenges of under-bonnet lamp, whose design light output. colour temperature, The RILI7OOHP was designed modern workshops, so we have eliminates shadows when working construction and battery Me are to provide portable but wide a lamp to suit every job and every inthe engine bay. Also in the family tested in S0:900|-accredivd labs angled ilumination, with up to professonal.The new MAGHlex is the pocketsized RIL3900HR The entire MAGMex range 1000 lumens of white LED light Utility isa good allround source which sill emits up to 400 lumens is available now, with the new for optimal vision The lamp has of iluminaion hat is powerful and of bright. white LED light despite RILSTOOHP carrying an SRP of two adjustable magnetic bases, provides wide-anged ilumination only being just mm deep. £4499.To find our more about this allowing i to be used free-sanding butt also portable and easy to With more than two decades’ and the rest ofits family, vise wor, ‘or atached to a mena surface for postion wherever its needed experience in making professonal- _ringautomotive.com. EASY TRAILERING WITH QUICK-HITCH HOWEVER MUCH of @ hardcore Wheeler you ore, i's probably the case thot you spend more time towing than you do offroading. At the very least, che amount of time 4x4 in general spend in the mud is 0 tiny fraction of the time they spend fetching trailers, transporters and caravans around the place. ‘Now, hitching one on is nt what you'd call an overly complicated procedure. But however ‘experienced you are, i's @ lot easier with two sets of hands and eyes onthe jb. It can toke a few cracks (of the whip to lock iin, t00, especially if youre on your own. This is something for Wilioms wanted to chonge. He's worked in the towing business for o long time, producing trailers ofall shopes and sizes during that time, and is no stranger to the frustration ‘of hitching up. Along with his brother, who trains HV drivers, for came up with the feirly simple but ‘nonetheless very effective premise thot Quick Hitch wos built on Hoving developed the idea for the product, intially to help drivers poss their HGV driving ‘qualifications, it was presented to the Driving Standards Agency — which duly approved it for production. The Trailer Stop towing system can sove drivers time and effort. And as itis aso reliable way of hitching o trailer with speed, it can save you money on repairing your bumper ~ as well s meaning you con easily bock up to your taller and itch it successfully while fying solo. So, how does it work? The Taller Stop isa plate that fit to your tow hook and sits around 4em behind the boll. In dong so, t increases the target ‘rea five-fold. Incorporated into the design, the hinged target plate also folds horizontal to serve as a step up to the truck bed, odding practicality ‘alongside the improved functionality. Quick Hitch has developed numerous variations on the design already to fit hitches from most manufacturers ~ including AvonRide, Knot, Bradley ‘and AL-Ko. They are alto compatible with for Wilms trailers os well as those from Indespension, Graham Edwards and Brian James, and solutions for other brands on the market are being developed on an ongoing basis So whtever kind of trailer iis thot you pull, whether it’s for work or play, cars or boats, agriculture, catering or equestrion pursuits, if there isn't ‘already a Quick Hitch Trailer Stop to suit your needs you can be pretty sure there willbe soon. Ifyou contact the Quick Hitch team via their website, TIT ey Le they will find out which system is right for you before getting in touch to discuss it in person ~ i's at www.quickhitchtowing co.uk. Pion bd 28 | NOVEMBER 2018LARGER THAN LIFE The Isuzu D-Max XTR looks like nothing you've ever seen - and there's not a lot else like it off-road, either ot PICTURES: Isuzu ee tet ere) pre eeterret tens Say er et sean ee eeneT ears ‘Up with Aretie Trucks on a eet bot eet ee ener tre ee ect Poe er ist rd ae ee eaerens poner here ‘of forms many of them specced more atention to is own range- and black ee a oe Sere them unique te this country pores the overall effec. you think of The XTR isthe test of these. attracting atention, the XTR res ek eee on Ser ae fen ers ted Pree een ea eee eaten amma en poe Pte eT Coe enna has a custom body kit featuring make you smile That outrageous cee Cn Pree ees een ees Peers ee eed er et Cen ed Ener enn) Lee eels Fee ee ar ee eee eed ete ene oe ee flows upwards into a moulded There's more to it underneath See nn ere ae ee ts peer cored ete et at oe Seen ee ea eet you can get as a dealer option on Serato ‘other pick-ups in the market the rest of the D-Max range.tn Peer ernie eet) cee ets conn eer) eee eee eee fea 30 | NOVEMBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 | 31Above right: The seats, which are unique to this model, are sports-styled jobs with a combination of sued carbon leather trim. The latter is a harder-wearing form of leather which Is ideal for use on high-traffic p Above centre: The steering wheel is trimmed in suede and leather for a blend of grip and wipe-clean convenience Above right: Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus is used for the first time here as an OE tyre. At 265/70R17, it stands 32” tall: helping ensure this extra height doesn't lead to brake fade are vented and slotted discs with carbon ceramic pads neither of the avaliable boxes is sreat-The manual units less than is portioned to deal correctly with remains truck-lke but in a very length of the thing the corners it the frone wheels’ new, longer arc of satisfactory way. I's flatted of at ‘can get round without shunting are pretty amazing Of course, the improvements travel. Ground clearance is quoted the bottom and trimmed in leather precise, even by pick-up standards, while the auto provokes long, gusty bellow of noise from the engine with every change, Overall we'd choose the manual for both on and 38 does the extra articulation in offroad use, but neither box does the truce justice (Offroad, while we'd choose her than al: 23¢ 250mm, which is only a marginal and suede, giving ita pleasing improvement over the 235mm of combination of style and grip that a standard D-Max, but as is always makes it nice to handle The seats add something to0, again using suede and leather to trim a sports-style design which Inunu has made to the XTR's approach ange help it offroad, too, the case i's what you do with it shat counts its front suspension. Weve always The same can be sad of the rated Pedders' kit and it certainly front brakes, which feature vented, holds you n very well around corners and on side-slopes alice “They don't have lumbar adjustment, terrains every ime, the XTR did but showed no signs of needing it during what was a lengthy days on works very wells this vehicle There are two versions ofthe XTR avalable ~ standard and Nave with the latter bringing a mena ‘of DAB, sat-nav and smartphone pairing via an upgraded infotainment module, Prices are £33,999 and £35,149 respectively (CVOTR), withthe automatic gearbox adding, £1000 in each case ‘This makes it the most expensive slotted front discs and kevar mud-terrains ceramic pads. Sounds like overkil expecially a the rear is sill on drums, but you only need to 2 remarkable job over a variety of surfaces and terrain types. hauled itself up sharp cress and Jong climbs alike, on both wet experience brake fade once in your and offroad driving. They are, on le to know there's no such thing asthe other hand, heated, which is too much reserve stopping power. great though the button is buried woodland mud and loose quarry A.senior lauzu engineer assured behind you on the seat base next stone, wth minimal traction loss, ts that the vehicle’ front-to-rear to the door, which makes it much straddled tree roots effectively braking balance remains within its og and our experience behind the wheel (which included a ful ABS the thing ‘On the road,the XTR’ extra. inthe iff height makes litle difference to Wes remarkably manoeuvrable, ts handling. Likewise the slight increase in overall gearing from ite taller tyres causes no problems ‘though on the subject of gearing, easier to switch on by accident and ploughed through ruts with no sign of grounding Again, this s on a model in the D-Max range ~ and insurance costs wil reflect that. | manufacturing tolerances, when climbing aboard than on purpose when youire actually st in moderate all-terrain tread pattern and without any kind of traction aid However it also makes a strong ‘ase for being the most convincing There are other ways of getting this much offroad ably ~ but ligh-up when a fast-moving VW Golf came head-on towards us too ~ trait it shares with the rest of the D-Max range, but with the added assurance that comes from its greater height. Considering the round a blind corner) confirmed that le stops very wall ‘not many of them come with such a strong blend of practicality and individval style. ‘The wheel in question is one ofthe highlights in a cabin that Ce NU Oe ae eco 7 ee + Frame - Powder Coated UV Stable Dark Grey Hammerite Finish * Doors - Powder Coated UV Stable Light Grey Smooth Textured Finish + Other Colours Available to Order * Locks - Black * Solid Side Doors + Front Panel - Fixed Clear Glass + Rear Door - 4mm Toughened Glass + Roof Rails come as standard + Pressure Equalizer Vent CANOPY ACCESSORIES * Reinforced Slotted Roof Bars + LED Lights Aluminium Cupboard/Sidelockers * Wolf Box Holder + Jerry Can Holder + Brushed Stainless Stee! Table * Table Storage Roof Bracket * Insulation - Roofi& Doors) + Tailgate Dust Kit + Drop Down Shelf + Eye Hooks * Sliding Windows In Side Doors + Air Vents/Dog Vents + Roof Cross Bars PHONE 01299 250174 E-mail: enquiries@apbtrading.co.ukDRIVEN TOYOTA LANDCRUISER VAN Entry-level Landcruiser offers exceptional off-road and all-round abilities in a compact but stunningly capable package - if you don’t need more than just two seats fe hisy8 Landcruiser Utility 3-door Commer: 1 todays offroad market. the Toyota Landcruiser is prety much as good asi gets. You ‘could argue about the Joep ‘Wrangler or the Suu Jimny, oF ‘even try to make a case for the new Land Rover Defender ~ bue if you ‘want something you could drive straight out of the dealership and into a full-blown expedition, chere’s 1 reason why the rest ofthe world turns straight to Toyota nine times ‘out of en, 34 | NOVEMBER 2019 “The rest of the world does, 0 why doesn't Britain? Because for decades, the Landcruiser has been an expensive, high-spec lxury vehicle whote world-class offroad ability has been lost beneath a sea (of leather. chrome, wood veneers and electronic toys. ‘Thats why we're such big fans of the sensible-spec Usiity model that came to Britain lst year takes 2 Just-enough approach to equipment In the process creating a 4x4 you can actually afford to buy if what you want is to use it a8 an offroad toy oF workhorse ‘And better stil you can get i a8. van.The Landcruiser Usiity ‘Commercial has all he usual arzractions of is kind, and is avalible in both short and ong: ‘wheelbase form. We've got the former here, which costs £26,637 = plus the VAT and OTR costs, obviously, bur cae’ sil a knock: younsocks-off starting point for Vehicle which, not so long ago ‘couldn't be had for less that what ‘counts as deal-breaker money to most of us, CABIN AND PRACTICALITY ‘The Commercia's interior fels ‘quite basi ~ more so than the passenger-carryng Utley, which 4x4 Seats are stoutly trimmed in hard-wearing fabric. No leather, seat heaters or electric controls need- ed here, thank you. The bulkhead behind them ‘comes up with a few clangs and rattles on bumpy roads but protects a big, usable cargo area; pictured here isa 5-door model, but the 3-door has the same basic configuration may oF may not be psychologial fon our part ~ but most of al thas the rock-solid buld and material quality you expect of a Landeruiser “The no-nonsense nature ofits cabin fives it an element of character ‘that’s perhaps misting in more lavishly equipped vehicles — its just you and the truck and there's something refreshing bout that With cruise control and air conditioning, i's not entirely shorn of creature comforts. Indeed, you could say it has the ones that matter most and dispenses with thote thae don'. You also get a radio that reaches Into the ar to pluck out AM and FM 4x4 signals, and allows you to connect your phone via Bluetooth or a USB cable.The system is simple to use,and the other controls con the dashboard are all good ld-ashioned dials, switches and buttons which make I ideal fr the working Ite Behind the diver almost immediately isa caged bulkhead, “This has a door in it to let you reach ino the cargo space which replaces the rear seats Being the three-door short wheelbase model, the Cruiser tested here is biased towards agility rather than extreme load carrying capaci but even then it has a sizeable 1574 litres of space ‘behind char bulkhead. The load area thas a fat floor that feels lke ie las forever, hough in typeal van fashion you'l ned to lash things ‘down to tf you don't wane them IWving around the pace when youre ‘out and about Up front the seats are sturdy loth-cloaked numbers which are both supportive and plush enough 1 sink into on longer journeys “The manual ajustments give you plenty of room for manoeuvre and therefore deivers ofall shapes and sizes can reliably find comfort which is particule important as this version of the Landeruiser {slikely to stare life inthe hands of a fleet Nowadays i's easy for functional Interiors to feel basic and dated, bus theresa balnce struck her which avoids that The radio and sadgets are hardly curing edge. but they don't need to be ~ they do the job and, truth be told in most ‘eases they do it just as well as the big-bucks stuff you see on more expensive 4uds DRIVING In the light commercial 44 clas, the Land Cruiser is predominantly ‘up against one-tonner pick- up trucks. So, while there's an obvious ference between them. it’s releant to consider how it performs in comparison, ‘When you're driving an unladen pick-up, youlve essentially got a compromised ride as the rear springs have to be ready to shoulder a tonne. Herein the Land Cruiser. whose payload rating | 488.593kg. the colls under ts backend only have around half the responsbilty Ride quality can hardly help bur be better a8 3 result, and there's le sign of the pitching that can be a bothersome issue on shortwheelbase vehicles More ofthe Landcruiser’ weight 's positioned between ts axe ines, 00, which helps make i spricely and aie both on and offroad. At 1975ke ies hardly a ligheweight, but NOVEMBER 2019 | 35.with 175bhp and 31OIbf., the Itter from deep down at 1200rpm, the responsive 28 D-4D turbo-diese! engine pings it round the place with plenty of zest. There's a really positive steering feel through the rack and pinion steering set-up, t00, which is as enjoyably agricultural as itis easy to use.You can have fun working the whee! on a rural Broad, but it's also usefully manoeuvrable with a turning circle tighter than that of the current Volkswagen Golf This of course is good news around town, where the supermarket car park need hold no fear:The three-door Landeruiser is 4395mm long (I4" 5” in old money) and 1995mm wide (6'2",and ic has 2 965" wheelbase, so ie has a smaller footprint than its imposing looks suggest ~ to keep the family car comparison goings shorter than the current Golf Rand less than Megane RS. What this means atthe sharp nd is fantastic manoeuvrability off-road. you want a vehicle thatll take the Garburn Pass ata stroll. the 3-door Landeruiser wil Inch wider than a Renault be on your shortist (and short is the word).In an environment ike this. the bonnet is shaped to allow 1 better view of che terrain ust ahead of you, which is useful - as may be a display on the driver info screen which highlights the current steering ange. Better not to have to rely on such a thing, of course, but ether way the Landcruiser is wonderfully easy to place as you pick your way over the ground. 36 | NOVEMBER 2019 Back on the blacktop. there's a predictably industrial ‘moan from the engine Under buties peppiness means you back off and let it whereupon cruising becomes pleasantly sedate, Wind and road surprisingly imited;the main imposition on cabin refinement is that caged bulkhead behind you, which raties ‘when your wheels hit pot holes and speed bumps. Naturally this being a van there's bit of drumming from the rear panels. This is more limited than on ‘most vehicles ofits kind, but it does come through asa mild echo from the back Either way turn up the stereo and you'l be fine. Fuel economy int overwhs by today’ seandards st 37.6mpg fon the combined cycle, but for a serious oftroader with a t ladder chasis and #0 on,it shows how far the industry has come. The tank is prety huge a 87 ltrs, 00, 0 yould be reasonable to ey 2 range of more than 600 miles between fullup. That'l go down f you're towing, of course. The Landcruiser is rated to haul 3000Kg inthis form, which is pretty monstrous for anything with the footprint ofa smal family car though of course i's SO0kg short of the legal maximum and that wil be off-putting for some, To us, this just adds to the Landcruiser’ incredible versatility For something 2 ustery formidable ‘off-road, and s0 obviously biased towards serious work and away from unecessary fils remarkably civilised on the road. More chan that in fact — with ts zestful performance, compact ‘size and and gung-ho steering and handing i's downright fun 4x4 Overloadin roblem easily solved What would your thoughts be if you were told your vehicle, trailer and everything carried on it and in it were not insured? Scary thought isn't it, but of all the vehicles stopped and checked by DVSA (2015-20316), over 80% were found to be overloaded and/or exceeding the driver's licence entitlement. When was the last time you checked your vehicle weights? If you knew there was an inexpensive option to avoid your overloading problems, would you be interested? For over 20 years, SvTech have covered GVW rerating on vehicles, from small sub 3.st vehicles all the way up to asot Special Types vehicles. SvTech can uprate the GVW of most 4x4’s and in some cases also increase the towing allowances. e.g. Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max — GVW increase to 3500kg + GTW of 3500kg (7000kg combined) A GVW uprate can increase your payload allowance thus reducing the size and number of vehicles involved for transporting your goods Try using SvTech’s free Load Distribution Analysis program to check your weights. SvTOP OF THE FORM Our monthly series on Jeep's Class of 2019 concept trucks concludes with the best of the lot - the stunning M-715 Five-Quarter Cree oe cares Jeep has built some stunning concepts down the years, whether for Moab or other 3 HF motor shows, but the M-715 Five-Quarter is right up there with the best of them’ Produces TO7bnp ~ enough to light up even a set of 40” tyres. It’s flanked by tubular shock ‘towers, which in turn carry a custom strut brace 38 | NOVEMBER 2019 : NOVEMBER 2019 | 39Formed from water-jetted alumiunium panels and finished using wooden slats, the pick-up bed is a work of creative art. ‘The rear suspension units are top-mounted on tubular shock hoops which also support the rear stays for a roll hoop, but mainly it just looks sensational - all the way down to the ‘gin’ and ‘tonic’ lettering on the jerry cans Mavis Razr mud-terraine on 20° Deadlock ris Thete live onthe end of Dynatrac Pro-rack 60 front and 80 rear axles, each of them containing locking dif There's a lot of strength there, which is ust as well because you need a pretty tianic ale to deal with the shock loads developed by tyres of that size especialy when theyre being turned by a 62-itre supercharged ‘Hellrate'VB.This isthe version (of the legendary Hem lump that powers (and how) the entiraly 40 | NOVEMBER 2019 Lnnecessary-and.all-the-betterforit Grand Cherokee Tackhawk We're obviously very well into rmoney-no-objectteritory here (a8 you's expect with afactory-bult custom show ear) and further eye-popping stuff includes the front fof the body where the sheet reral was removed alsogether and replaced by carbon fire. In the ‘back, meanwhile, the pick-up bed has been bobrailed~ though is sil sx feet long, Shc feet long and, just a small matter fbbed from scratch in aluminium using panels cut by water Jets The welds are left visible to show off the Jeep team’s handwork and the base ofthe bed itself is perforated and finished off with wooden sats. alla bit ofa feast for the eyes — i off the deliberately wable rear shock hoops and the tops of those huge Fox coilovers These aso provide rear ‘mounting point for a roll structure ‘which runs into the cabin through the back ofa fll canvas hood ~ whose height has been dropped can take them bby 35° compared to that ofthe ‘original cab Jeep sys tis adds to the vehicle’ Yactory monster truck sihouetee! which i language we don’ think much of, but between its shape and its height i certainly thas a dominant stance. ‘That sence, and indeed that height tll a story of epic approach, departure and breakover angles {as the photo below lft ilustrates) Bue this is Moab, where even the ‘most capable of rigs can grind horribly against the harsh bedrock, 10 the original sls have been replaced by fl length rock rails ‘At either end, the bodywork is finshed off by modified Jeep Gladiator Rubicon stee! bumpers fora similar love of strength, Upfront, che headlamps have been replaced with new HID lights, and further auxllary LEDs mean itcan be daytime whenever you want it to be. The original tall ight housings now hols LED halo lights, +00.You'll ee this thing before you hear it~ which sas something because with that engine at full chat ‘under load you'l hear it from the Inside the cabin bluney, you ain’ seen nuthin’ yet. ‘There's a bit ofa military theme, well co put it 4x4 The interior is just jaw-dropping, with more water-cut ally panels making up the dash and door cards. That tranny ‘tunnel Is the case from a vintage supercharger, too ~ what's not to love! with steneled lettering forthe ‘smtchgear, but the instrument pane looks like nothing Uncle Samis quartermasters ever issued lke the rear bed, it’s assembled from custom components in water: jected aluminium, Below it the transmission ‘tunnel was made using the casing from an old 8-71 supercharger and we can't think of many more wonderful amples of upeycing In the automotive world The seats are low-back jobs modified from standard leatherclaé Wrangler Issue, and beyond them the door cards are water-jetted too. The floors have been sprayed with becliner to give them greater grip and durability ake, and the overall effect is nothing short of wonderful ‘Thats a pretty good verdict on the vehicle itself, actualy. Jeep has bulk some stunning concepts down the years, whether for Moab or ‘other motor shows, but the M715, Five-Quarter is right up there with the best of them, Whether you lice your 444s classic or modern, standard or modded, tp for work oF built to play, t would take a heartshearted traditionalist not to like this truck. Some of the Class 0f 2019 demonstrate what you can o by spending your dollars on a load of accessories from Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts ~ but atthe top ofthe clas is this work of pure automotive fantasy e's not a truck you could build yourslfat least not without vast budget and some world. workshop skil of your own. But the M-715 Five-Quarter is as true as they come to what Jeep and Moab, are all about. And you know what? le makes us want a Gladiator more than ever. Below: Joop's Easter Safari Class of 2019 - with the M-715 Five-Quarter at its head NOVEMBER 2019 | 41Odell alg eA Ea iO, ET EU ES 50mm Lift ¢ Comfort and performance options ¢ I sb S9 | | Foam Cell id SUSPENSION KITS FROM Ford Ranger Mitsubishi Titon 1026 Sh Toyota Hilux Isuzu D-Max Volkswagen Amarok > Nissan Navara (coil/coil) - £728 SUSPENSION KITS FROM mY Ford Ranger a Mitsubishi Triton = 1199 Toyota Hilux Isuzu D-Max Volkswagen Amarok Nissan Navara (coil/coil) - £876 Large size and capacity - suitable in all conditions ‘© 18mm Piston Rod Foam Gel Pro Shock Absorbers WEST COAST Maximum size and most robust design - suitable in all conditions OFF ROAD.CO.UK ‘45mm Piston» Foam Cell Technology CORTE ooo ort 01704 229014 71 Gorsey Lane, Banks, Southport, PR98ED 20 ers use VT bt xe ees a tagPra PV Cee een) eee eer Sea ee ances ee eee) Dacovery will probably be used on lanes. Most come eee nea ered Cr er econ nna ror “The big Land Cruiser 80-Series i famed for earn ge ficeng through narrow gaps).In particular, though, Toyotas mighty masterpiece is assocated with renee ees We've featured a good few 80s in this ‘magazine. Some have been heaviy lifted in 8 bid for playday supremacy but most have been ‘expedition prepped to a greater or lesser degree Cee a ees See er eareaty Pee rot ote ete te ees Peretti et rte) Peet eer ee ret ars g0t stuck, had fun geting out and the res is eee era geet the found his way into the off-road game. He's a en ae ed Events and Spondon and District Off-Road Club, ‘hough several Lind Cruisers later he doesn't reese CE ene eee et eae Dee rere etd peeray crs Pe eae mene Pee ote edie Pore eee een ened Se Cer tere tan’ what you really wanted was 2 Toyota Land Cae onic eon eet Sg eee eee ees ‘Actually he bought two, Not at the same time, Perera eet ted ery eer ce eee ree ee eet re ee eee eet errr eeeed peer ed ee een ned tee e ee) Ce EU Le Lt) x4 ever made. Maybe that’s why so many of those you see being CYT ey aI for long-range overlanding. Chris Jerman’s 80 Se ed een reece ee rrnomet se Rearend Joints nothing compared to the aching heart Pere en eee ere ea eee as ee er eee a eee erat rs Makes you ache with longing, doesn’t ee eur Se eer kates eo ted acted ten popes eter tet te] ee toon erred es kone ad shape of an efficient two-ring gas hob sere e Cel RAC LCR (lM Cet) ie eee aa ee eee eter ee ee ‘can imagine the way it’s had to travel ere erent it rides on is like poetry in motion. And ‘when the fridge Is stowed, the catch can erent er rd re and out comes the larder NOVEMBER 2019 | 45Above left: Toyota’s IHJD-T 4.2-litre 24-valve engine is one of the best diesels ever made. It’s strong as an ox, supremely reliable and torquey enough to pull a house down at tickover. People don’t mess with these engines - and ‘why would you, when they're so good in standard form? Chris has left his well alone, making mods only to a few associated systems: the alternator has been upgraded, and the started motor changed for a 12-volt unit to suit anew ‘electrical system which keeps the cranking and domestic batteries separate using a National Luna split-charge system. Also under the bonnet are additional cabling and air hose, a bracket for the fuel filter and an ARB twin compressor feeding a Viair two-gallon tank, as well as pipework feeding the system that provides hot and cold running water ‘Above right: Up top, a James Baroud Explorer hardshell roof rent is sufficiently well specced to be able to boast of having internal power and light. The roof tent sits on a custom extended-length rack from Patriot, which is also home to a Foxwing 270-degree awning with sides Above left: If you're a sucker for a neat installation, this will make you go weak at the knees. The offside rear seat folds forward to reveal a CTEK intelligent battery management system, and stored behind it is a solar panel which comes out to keep the batteries charged when the truck's parked up for the night Above right: Mains electricity comes from a Waeco 600-watt pure sine wave inverter, and exterior lighting Is controlled by dimmer switches. Up top in this picture is what looks like It might be a shower head, which Is because... It’s a shower head. Using a heat exchanger fed from an under-bonnet Kenlowe circulation pump, this is a Land Cruiser with hot and cold running water Right: The Cruiser is held up on an EFS 4” lift. And it really is held up, too, because this was specified to deal with a typical running weight of +500kg Les jst say that again The planning paié ‘off Hint: Do planning ~ i pays off Something ‘else that pays off is doing all the work yoursel “There's no end tothe reasons for this — e's fn, it's rewarding you learn stuf. i saves thousands ‘of pounds, you get to know your truck inside out and, ofcourse, you've got no-one to blame but yourself ie goes pear-shaped on you. Not that that has happened to Chris: When he describes his workshop as being equipped with ‘mig, plasma, lathe and vertical miling machine, a opposed to just the usual box of sockets and 8 Sodding great hammer, you can be pretty sure tha the truck’s going to have been done right. ‘And poking around it pretty much ‘that yes, this is a good ‘un. So many of the modified vehicles you see have electrics that look like a rat's nest, but here it all supremely neat and tidy. Ie goes without saying that Chris has used the right cables and wires around the = s ‘The spare wheel and hi is vehicle, but over and above that there’ no slack ‘no unnecessary coils floating around, and it’ all clipped beauutully in place rather than being held down by gravity or shoved under 3 carpet In particular the installation of a CTEK Uncelgent battery management system behind the rear seats looks ike it could have come straight out of commercial airliner, is that 00d This is connected toa rear Optima Yellow ‘Top, which is kept topped up from a solar panel while running all the vehicle's domestic systems. ‘To make space for ths, Chris converted the ‘truck from its factory spec 24-volt starter to a 12-vole uni The set-up runs a National Lura spli-charge system, and there's an upgraded 120.amp alternator to help it keep on top of the ‘many demands placed in Again, the installation sa thing of beauty. Likewise, the use of space inthe back of the vehicle is immaculate, as s the operation ofthe custom érop slide that carries aWaeco CCF4O fridge freezer. Next to ic are a sink and shower uni running hot and cold water fed by a Kenlowe pump under the bonnet All his is revealed once the spare whee! is swung away on a custom mount, which itself is con rear bumper Chris made himsel The whole boot isa study in packaging — there's not a scrap of usable space that ist working frit living, and once the vehicle is setup forthe night it opens out into a fully equipped camp kitchen. You'd expect nothing less after two years in the hands of a man who clearly knows exactly what he's doing, of course. But this Cruiser really is something special. by anyone's standards And isnot all just about the domestic side either You don’t get a vehicle ofthis age without having to do a bit of remedial work, and the original engine is now mated to the gearbox {rom a later HDJ100-Series Land Cruiser upon a rear bumper which iso notable... because Chris made it himself, too. He's not scared of spending money on the right stuff, though: an ARB winch bumper, home to a Come-Up 9.5 wound with | Imm Dyneema rope, proves the point 46 | NOVEMBER 2019 4x4 LUkewise, Chis replaced the 39:1 dif for 4.1:1 units to compensate for the 315/7SRI6 ‘Cooper Discoverer STs the truck now wears Hardly an extreme choice of tyre in terms of size, chat, but youl have worked out by now that he's not one for making do. No surprise then thatthe bigger tyres are stopped by uprated brakes, and thatthe +4” suspension lft was specified not just to hike the vehicle's height but 0 cope with an additional 500k in weight too. ‘ruth to tel, you don't see many badly modded 80-Series Land Cruisers doing the rounds. That's mainly because even two decades ‘on, theyre stil worth so much money thatthe Left: Even if you don’t have stuff to store, this Black Ops cargo net from Rock’n’Road is worth having just for how damn sexy it looks. It’s not ‘obvious at first glance, but as well as the net itself there's a bottom blanket sitting flush to the bonnet; the hooks attaching It are coated, too, s0 the vehicle’s paintwork shouldn't suffer at all 4x4 bash.tewith-a-hammer brigade would sooner buy an old Jimny or Discovery, while the bash with-a-stick brethren are more likely to find an MOT.hiled Cherokee or Trooper that they can demolish in a quarry prior to weighing itn That's one end ofthe off-road game for you.And relevant though ic may be, its a the opposite end to what you see here. Chris has bull himself a Land Cruiser ft to go round the ‘world with absolute eate —a 4x4 in which age is simply irrelevant and datance ta thing to be enjoyed, nt feared. I's why Toyota made them the way they are ~and why the 80-Series will forever remain a legend. NOVEMBER 2019 | 47OE Reel e Ce eal) Pee ke Reg el cea Lk le RNs Dee ahaa hn 28 oF ae aus Ec eee te Era) ——__ i Li iy AL ey: co LYE ne nN BORE TEED OTTO UE ERINCOEE £7.50 in advance, £15 on the door. Under 14s go free YS CY Veet yma Car) eee yS See Sas DEE aie ahha ARR Rea eM asin uchoee te tl Pentru Pee tee hated A of d Sea ed PU Rana ated ed Pena Allthe best Land Rover kit, parts and merchandise. Special shot ty parecer agai bier nrer et 01283 553243 www.greatbritish Irshow.com eameabe Sesame % TerrafirMa EyTeor ine aese kT from an era when most 4x4s were still leaf-sprung. Tate) CRT) utero Pee} cu) eda eal) ~ genuis that predicted the high-performance UVs of today? = OSCR ated een ad eee eer oe eee ope ete eee er ied this was jst a passing fad? Surely the highest ‘echelons of kaxury and performance motoring arn nd Ce eed ene re et eee od Pee er ene eee] ere eee ees Uunchikabie happened and Lamborgh joined cee eet eee eed Desc See etc diferent Whereas the Urus isan outright performance SUV developed as a consequence er nce er eT Ce ukceka aumeen ad pent emetic The year was 1977. Exactly a quarter of a er ee ees Se eee ee rete any Poot ere nr erect] SNe ead ne ee errr a ne ee ee nan ‘was having with his car, Lamborghini decided that eee tee eestieet Ce ee ee eo tee rere oas Back to 1977. Half the world was watching ee ee ee eee Tete en Seen bondage and gobbing at the Sex Pistols. In the ena) eee ere eee rd ee Rome ea nes ee ee ees eee ted Pertenece, Miura, Espada Jarama, Urraco.And then of course there was the Countach, which to this Ce ceca er enna are ee ees eee tee ee Popeater oer ante foe? So, the world wondered, what beaut, Pate eee ne ene ee et eed Leen ne reek cnt Cee eet oA ete] Oe ee ee ee eed ee eee ee ns ‘The Cheetahs story began way back in the De ede for the vehicle which would replace its old Jeeps [Ac the time, Limborghin’s core business was stil asa tractor manufacturer (that’s how Ferrucio amassed his fortune in the first place), De ee emetoue ed ee eet eisthe perfect way to bring in some much-needed sales volume. The Cheetah sounded fine ‘on paper.A 5.-ltre Chrysler V8 engine drove 1 three-speed automatic transmission and fulltime transfer ease. Twin dif locks provided traction. and its rugged chassis was topped off ‘with a fbreglass boey providing enough space to accommodate four fly equipped soldiers and a driver That was on paper But on the road, was a different matter A large cast iron engine is never going to be the best thing for handing — but 52 | NOVEMBER 2019 {es sng out over the back axl, things are bound to get dicey. Despite ts size, 00, the low-tech LA 360 engine only produced I80bhp - which. combined with a kerb weight of 2042kg, meant the vehicle might reasonably have been called Sloth’ rather than ‘Cheetah’ ‘There was another problem. Lamborghini wasn't the only company pitching for Uncle Sam's busines: AM General was interested 0, and its submission was the prototype for what would fone day be known as the Hummer. The writing was on the wall There’ always an element of politics in the awarding of military contracts. s0 whether the lain vehicle ever stood a chance is debatable, But when the US Army took the Cheetah for testing in California and succeeded in destroying the only prototype, the game was up. Lamborghini didn even bother ashing fr it back ‘Yu mighe think they'd have seen this as sign that they should concentrate on building beaueul sports cars with names that sounded lke poetry. Bue no. Whether i was bind fith or sheer bloody-mindedness, Lamborghini decided to persist with the concept. Quite wtiy 2 supercar manufacturer was 20 determined to branch into this sphere ofthe ‘Where it all began: the Lamborghini Cheetah makes its world debut at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show. Developed for evaluation by the US Army, it was built by a military specialist in Califor- nia then shipped to Italy to have its ‘engine and body fitted. Unlike the an- imal after which it was named, it was ‘slow and no good at changing direc- tion in a hurry: one similarity, though, was that from the very start, it was an ‘endangered species ‘The LM007's front-mounted engine and all-independent double-wishbone suspension are laid bare here. Even in such a huge vehicle, there was precious little spare room in the engine bay ~ note how high the Countach unit sits, and how it was necessary to add an ugly bonnet bulge to accommodate the air filters (this was smoothed out on later models). ‘Tubular chassis members are visible towards the rear of the vehicle, as are twin coil LM series® rear-engined origins - and drum brakes. Just what you need when you" ‘that was about as big, and indeed as heavy, as the stately homes it was destined to be parked outside market is hard to understand, expecially during period when 4xts were stl largely considered utlity vehicles. Lamborghin! Itself describes this era a8:"dficult due to seratepc miseakes, withthe company over Investing in an off-road vehicle with no prospect of sales: Nevertheless, what followed was the LMOO! «civilian vehicle lle diferent from the Cheetah ‘except for the inclusion ofa new AMC VB engine. First unveiled atthe 1981 Geneva Auto Show, Lamborghini desperately used it to ty ‘The LMA prototype was presented as a military model, with a gun turret in the space freed up by moving its engine in the front. It was no better than the ill-fated Cheetah at 's armies ~ but with a new chassis and in-house power from the Countach V12, it was this, vehicle that would ultimately become the LM002 appealing to the worl Interior packaging, withthe cabin now capable of accommodating six seats. Finally perhaps, it was starting to make sense. Lamborghini frally had a vehicle that someone might actualy want to buy. ‘This heady prospect appeared to ve the company a nosebleed, soit quickly wene back to bulding ridiculous prototypes no-one sane would want. First came the LMOO3, which was basicaly an LMOO2 with a3.6-Htre VM turbo: diesel engine. This weighed 2600ke and had 1S0bhp, and you can guess the ret. It was probably as fast as any other Lamborghini up to about Imph, but what it did fastest of given up as a bad job. “The LMO04, meanwhile, went in the opposice Girection, with 7.3treVI2 une delvering 420bhp.Thisultra-4x lorded ie witha spec lst including things lke a phone and fridge (this was the early 80s, don't forget), but despite its monstrous engine i still wasn't any quicker than the LMOO2 and yet agnin, just the one prototype was produced. “The 7.ltre unit was in theory available to special order as an option on the LMOO2 throughout is production life. This never appears was be to have been made official however, and is not known whether any were ever actully bult By nom, anyway, almost a decade had passed since the Cheetah was frst unveiled. Those Star Wars fans had watched ago as the Empire struck back and the Jedi returned: Paul ‘McCartney had sunk from the heights of Mull of Kingyre to the obscure depths of Press to Phy, Sid Vicious was dead and instead of punks we had Spandau Ballet and Frankie Goes to Hollywood: and instead of the Cortina, Ford had just started building the glorious new Sierra Cosworth, e was 1986.The year of Diego Maradona and the Hand of God. Frat after nine years of ‘experimentation, tiaLand-error and downright and generate interest among cl sheiths and sal, che US Army, but without success Ie seemed the company was slow in learning from its mistakes, as the LMOO!’s engine was aso hung cout behind its back axle. During testing this once ‘yin proved problematic, causing the front end to lita high speed — yet another dificuty on top of overheating and poor brakes. Like the Cheetah the LMOO! never went beyond the stage of a prototype Wie frstand second, you don't succeed... ge up Oh no, Next came the LM002. This time, Lamborghini relocated the engine to the front of an entirely new chassisand the engine in question was aVI2.Countach Unit The new layout allowed better